No need to do something as radical as stopping the rear wheel and destroying your tire every time you want to stop. All you need to do is put a brake on the front wheel - that’s the wheel that does most of the stopping anyway. Then, just resisting the pedals works to slow the rear tire without skidding.
Also, a minor quibble - I wouldn’t say that track bikes were originally intended for indoor races on tracks. The first bicycles, designed for riding on “roads” (such as they were) as transportation were fixed gears. The first several Tours de France were done on fixed gear bikes (see Bicyclopedia entry: Tour de France, under “equipment”.)
I’d characterize the use of the track for these bikes as a way to a) maintain the older fixed gear racing and b) concentrate the racing for spectators. After all, there is no technical reason one couldn’t use a freewheel and derailleurs on a track - while I don’t have a cite I believe the reason why track bikes are still fixed gears is simply tradition.
I’d characterize the use of the track for these bikes as a way to a) maintain the older fixed gear racing and b)
concentrate the racing for spectators. After all, there is no technical reason one couldn’t use a freewheel and
derailleurs on a track - while I don’t have a cite I believe the reason why track bikes are still fixed gears is simply
tradition.
Track bikes are direct drive bikes, track racing is not done to preserve tradition it’s a seperate class of biking, you cannot just go from pro-road racing (cat-1-road) and attempt to do a pro-track race (cat-1-track). The reason why you don’t use a freewheel, brakes, and derailleurs is a matter of weight, track bikes are incredibley light. There are many types of track racing, team, single, tandem, etc…
As to ruining the tires when you stop, that only happens to rookie riders who don’t know what they are doing. If you have experience you can either slow down by under pedaling, or you can skip the tire.